Toboggan



May 15, 1962 s. w. CONOVER 3,034,799

TOBOGGAN Filed July 28, 1961 INVENTOR. Li. S. -A/v sy M Co/vove/ directional control of the toboggan during use.

United States Patent 3,034,799 TOBOGGAN Stanley W. Conover, 445 Van Roan Road, Utica, NY. Filed July 28, 1961, Ser. No. 127,607 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-18) This invention relates to toboggans and more particularly to a novel steering mechanism for use on toboggans and the like.

Heretofore various means have been devised for steering vehicles such as toboggans: and sleds and in general they have involved the use of runners or similar devices which have been articulated by wires interconnected with steering wheels, et cetera. Needless to say, such prior ant devices involve periodic maintenance and repair and introduce a degree of hazard in that on occasion for one reason or another the wires become disconnected or broken and control of the vehicle is lost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toboggan steering mechanism of simple unitary design which is rugged and durable and which provides steering control of the vehicle without appreciably increasing the friction of the vehicle on snow or ice.

It is another object of the invention to provide a toboggan steering device which is easily adapted for use on existing structures as well as on devices newly constructed.

The present invention comprises a toboggan having an elongated body portion and a flat bottom with a curved end front portion. A unitary steering mechanism is provided constituted by a channel member longitudinally disposed on the underside of the toboggan with its channel sides facing downwardly. The channel member is pivotally afixed at one end to the bottom at its rearward portion and is axially aligned with the bottom and extends forwardly along the bottom. It is curved upwardly at its other end and is shaped to provide handle means. In one embodiment bracket means is provided on the front end of the toboggan which receives the handle means. In another embodiment a lateral slot is provided at the front end of the toboggan to receive the handle means. In either case the bracket means or lateral slot permit limited lateral movement of the handle means to eifect Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent in the following specification and claims and in the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. -1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the steering mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the steering mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1-4, the invention involves a toboggan designated generally by the reference numeral 10 constructed in the usual fashion. Steering bar, guide or runner 11, constructed of metal, wood or plastic as desired is axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the toboggan and over at least a substantial portion of its length is channel shaped having a pair of downwardly facing sides 1213. Channel 11 is pivotally affixed to the underside of the toboggan by any conventional pivot fastening such as a bolt 14 and washer 15. Such connection is made at the rearward end 16 of the channel 11 and is located at the rearward portion 17 of the toboggan as shown. The forward end portion 18 of the channel 111 is curved upwardly to conform generally to the front end configuration of the toboggan and handle grip 19 may be included to provide convenient gripping means. Bracket means 20 is aifixed to the curved lip 21 of the toboggan and is affixed thereto in any conventional way such as with screws 22, and receives the steering bar 11 and provides limited lateral movement of the same.

The other embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is essentially the same except that a lateral slot 23 is provided in the curved front end 21 of the toboggan and the handle portion 18 of the steering bar 11 is shaped accordingly so that it extends through the slot and then upwardly at a convenient angle for manipulation.

With either embodiment, steering of the toboggan is easily effected by lateral movement of the handle means 18, the channel sides 12, 13 penetrate the upper surface of the snow or ice being travelled over and not only provide directional stability for the vehicle but also permit a change of direction as desired by the occupant.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a device having the desired objects mentioned above and has novel features not provided by devices of the prior art.

While two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein it is to be understood that certain changes and additions might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A toboggan comprising an elongated body portion having a flat bottom and a curved front end portion, a unitary elongated steering mechanism constituted by a channel member longitudinally disposed on the underside of said toboggan with its channel sides facing downwardly, said channel member pivotally affixed at one end to said bottom at the rearward portion thereof and axially aligned with said bottom, said channel member extending forwardly along said bottom and curved upwardly at its other end and shaped to provide handle means, bracket means on said front end receiving said handle means and permitting limited lateral movement thereof to effect directional control of said toboggan during use.

2. A toboggan comprising an elongated body portion having a flat bottom and a curved front end portion, a unitary elongated steering mechanism constituted by a channel member longitudinally disposed on the underside of said toboggan with its channel sides facing downwardly, said channel member pivotally aflixed at one end to said bottom at the rearward portion thereof and axially aligned with said bottom, said channel member extending forwardly along said bottom and curved upwardly at its other end and shaped to provide handle means, a lateral slot in said front end receiving said handle means and permitting limited lateral movement thereof to effect directional control of said toboggan during use.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Jan. 3, 1948 

